Darksiders 2 continues the story after War was imprisoned. Now you play as his brother to free the human race and undo the damage done by the Apocalypse. Fight minions with new weapons, loot, skills and open environments.



Follow my step-by-step guide on installing, configuring and optimizing Darksiders 2 in Linux with PlayOnLinux.

Note: This guide applies to the GOG version of Darksiders 2. Other versions may require additional steps.

Tips & Specs:

To learn more about PlayOnLinux and Wine configuration, see the online manual: PlayOnLinux Explained

Mint 17.3 64-bit
PlayOnLinux: 4.2.10
Wine: 1.8-d3d_doublebuffer

Wine Installation

Click Tools
Select "Manage Wine Versions"


Select "Wine versions (amd64)" Tab
Look for the Wine Version: 1.8-d3d_doublebuffer
Select it
Click the arrow pointing to the right


Click Next

Downloading Wine


Extracting

Downloading Gecko


Installed


Wine 1.8-d3d_doublebuffer is installed and you can close this window

PlayOnLinux Setup

Launch PlayOnLinux
Click Install


Click "Install a non-listed program"


Click Next

Select "Installa a program in a new virtual drive"
Click Next


Name the virtual drive: darksiders2
Click Next


Check all three options:

• Use another version of Wine
• Configure Wine
• Install some libraries

Click Next


Select Wine 1.8-d3d_doublebuffer
Click Next


Select "64 bits windows installation"
Click Next


Wine Configuration

Applications Tab
Windows Version: Windows 7
Click Apply


Graphics Tab
Check "Automatically capture the mouse in full-screen windows"
Check "Emulate a virtual desktop"
Desktop size: 1024x768
Click OK


PlayOnLinux Packages (Libraries, DLL's, Components)

Check the following:

• POL_Install_corefonts
• POL_Install_d3dcompiler_43
• POL_Install_d3dx11
• POL_Install_d3dx9
• POL_Install_tahoma

Click Next


Note: All packages will automatically download and install

Click Browse

Select "setup_darksiders2_deathinitive_2.0.0.2.exe"
Click Open


Click Next again

Click OK


Click Options
Uncheck "Create desktop icon"
Uncheck "Check file integrity before installation"
Check "Yes, I have and accept EULA"
Click Install


Click OK on all errors


Click Exit


PlayOnLinux Shortcut

Select "Darksiders2.exe"
Click Next


Name the shortcut: Darksiders 2
Click Next


Select "I don't want to make another shortcut"
Click Next


PlayOnLinux Configure

Back to PlayOnLinux
Select "Darksiders 2"
Click Configure


General Tab
Wine version: 1.8-d3d_doublebuffer


Note: Click the + to download other versions of Wine. Click the down-arrow to select other versions of Wine.

Display Tab
Video memory size: Enter the amount of memory your video card/chip uses


Close Configure

Flicker Reduction

A d3d frame limiter mod for Skyrim helps to reduce flickering

1. Go To: http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/2581/
2. Click Files
3. download "Skyrim Stutter Fix-2581-0-1.zip"
4. Save to your Desktop
5. Right-click
6. Select "Extract Here"
7. Open Folder
8. Copy antilag.cfg & d3dx9.dll
9. Paste them in the Darksiders 2 Folder

Path:

Code:

/home/username/.PlayOnLinux/wineprefix/darksiders2/drive_c/GOG Games/Darksiders II Deathinitive Edition

Note: replace "username" with your login

Launching Darksiders 2

Select "Darksiders 2"
Click Run


Note: Click Debug to see errors and bugs

Optimization:
To reach the options menu, you will have to pause the game during game-play
Click Options


Video Options

• Vertical Sync
• Gamma
• Video Resolution
• Full-screen
• Ambient Occlusion
• Shadow Quality
• Anti-Aliasing

Conclusion:
Unfortunately there are still some artifacts and bugs with Darksiders 2. A square in the top left screen would see through scenery and objects. There is also the menu & HUD flickering from time to time just like in the first Darksiders. If you can stand these bugs, the game is otherwise totally playable on my GeForce 550 Ti and GTX 950.

Gameplay Video:


Screenshots: